Results 1,461-1,480 of 26,225 for speaker:Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (20 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I send my best wishes to the Minister who is not with us and I hope he makes a quick recovery. I am happy to have the opportunity to raise this matter again. The issue of reorganisation was raised as a Topical Issue prior to the summer recess. I am sure the Minister of State will agree that what we are dealing with today is the fall-out from that reorganisation process. The Minister of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (20 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I thank the Minister of State for his response. The Minister of State has stated that the Government must govern and that it is a matter for the Minister to make decisions. Our criticism is voiced against the background of the Government's decision to enter into a Green Paper process, followed by a White Paper process, in advance of which it has decided to carry out a fundamental reform...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (20 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: The cart is being put before the horse.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (20 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: To ask the Minister for Defence the current status of the review into the Reserve Defence Force, the vision he has for the future of the RDF; the time line of the value for money review; if he sees it as an integral part of the Defence Forces; his views on recent media speculation regarding its future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39665/12]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (20 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: The Minister of State must build up to it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (20 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I had hoped my question might put people's mind at rest in respect of the future of the Reserve Defence Force but I fear it will have the opposite effect in light of the comments of the Minister of State. I reflect considerable disappointment at the fact the value for money review has been ongoing for two years in respect of an area that spends 1% of the overall defence budget. That figure...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (20 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I respect the Minister of State's personal interest in this matter and his commitment but the members of the Defence Force Reserve want from him an assurance that he, as Minister of State, is committed to the future development of the force. He has not made that commitment today. The members also expect him to say he is bewildered at the fact that it has taken two years to consider a review...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (20 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: The Minister of State has been in power for the past 18 months.

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (20 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I thank the Minister of State for his response. Some of my points were made earlier by Deputy Finian McGrath. We are all enormously proud of the role of our troops for over a quarter of a century in Lebanon. No doubt, they will continue to distinguish themselves in the region. In light of the Arab spring, the significant instability and uncertainty that exists and the background of Syrian...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (20 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I disagree with Deputy Wallace on the need to be neutral in the Syrian situation. We are seeing genocide and the slaughter of women and children in that country.

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (20 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: No one more than our Defence Forces would want to see the Irish Government stand up, as it has done in the form of the Tánaiste. I pay tribute to him on his role in the Friends of Syria group's condemnation of the actions of everyone involved in slaughtering innocent people. We need to make that point.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Equipment (20 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I thank the Minister of State for his positive response. There has been considerable investment in infrastructure and equipment to bring our military into the modern era in terms of its capacity to respond to situations at home and abroad. Will we be able to provide the necessary equipment to support our participation in the EU battle group and our ongoing responsibilities with UNIFIL?...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (20 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I thank the Minister of State for the response. There is ongoing international controversy, not least in the United States, about the impact of this particular drug. I welcome the Minister of State's assurances that the position within the Defence Forces is being carefully monitored. One cannot but be a little amused at the idea that anxiety is one of the symptoms doctors check in soldiers...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (20 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: No, I merely mentioned that there are issues with the use of the drug.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (20 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: My question is on the risk-benefit profile. From my reading of this, there is great disparity in the suggested risks from one in 10,000 to other experts stating it could be as high as one in 140. Were this latter figure to be the case, the potential risk to our Defence Force members is enormous. Has the Irish Medicines Board, in consultation with the Department of Defence, investigated...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Disabled Drivers (20 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider a request made in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39917/12]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (25 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the recent correspondence he has had with Kildare Vocational Education Committee in relation to the provision of improved second level accommodation at the Curragh Camp; if he has engaged with the Department of Defence on this matter; his strategy for the long term delivery of education at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Illness Benefit Appeals (25 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will expedite an appeal on an application for illness benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40080/12]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (25 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider the issue regarding visas raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40514/12]

Written Answers — Department of Defence: School Accommodation (25 Sep 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: To ask the Minister for Defence if he or the military authorities at the Curragh Camp have had recent discussions with the Department of Education and or Kildare Vocational Education Committee in relation to second level educational provision at the camp; if it is intended to provide improved accommodation for the existing school; if he and his Department are committed to the long term...